Meet the TV advert cabin crew: Vasco

A few days ago we met Priya, one of the cabin crew members currently featuring on our TV advert. Today we’re getting to know another of the protagonists, Vasco!

Hi Vasco! To start off, tell us about you.

I was born in Madeira, Portugal and then moved to Jersey when I was 8 and lived there until I was 19. I went to high school there and then my first job was in a bank starting out as a cashier and then moving to front desk (customer service). Eventually, I became an offshore banking advisor.

If your friends described you in three words, what would they say?

Committed. Hardworking. Charismatic.

What made you want to work for Monarch?

Whilst living in Jersey, my wish was always to travel. I wanted to know new places, new cultures, and be able to talk to people with different backgrounds. My desire to travel and passion for customer service naturally led me to explore career opportunities as cabin crew. I attended a weekend cabin crew training course at London Gatwick, where they would provide us with tips and guide us on how to apply for the role. Once back in Jersey, I applied to several airlines and Monarch was the first one to get back to me. I was invited for an interview at Luton and I was offered a position with a choice between Gatwick and Manchester. I accepted the offer to be based at Manchester.

How long have you been working for Monarch?

I started in February 1993, so have been flying for over 23 years!

What gives you the most satisfaction in the job?

Every day is different; however what consistently gives me most satisfaction in my job is the feeling that my team and I have provided exceptional customer service to all our customers. I love creating a first good impression from the moment passengers board the plane, and making sure it’s turned into an even better impression by the time they leave.

What keeps you motivated to enjoy your job?

The people I work with, having a great team and the company that I work for. I also enjoy the challenges that come with my role as Cabin Manager.

What do you love the most about it?

I find it very rewarding to work with different crew members every day. I especially like meeting our new recruits and mentoring them in the role. I have made some amazing friends and have visited some wonderful places over the years I have been with Monarch.

What made you want to audition for the TV advert?

It was a spur of the moment decision! I saw it advertised on Monarch’s intranet just before operating a flight. I recorded the video in the car park and submitted it.

How did you feel when you were told you had been picked to feature in the advert?

I was shocked and elated as I had recorded my audition video on a whim and didn’t think anything of it. I thought it was a fun thing to do and I am glad I submitted it.

What did you think of the filming process?

A lot was involved behind the scenes. I felt like I was taking part in a movie! There were fittings for various outfits for the filming, and several specific scenes (you can see me driving a car). It definitely wasn’t what I expected and the filming team were very welcoming and professional and made me feel like I was a real part of the project. It was very exciting and fun. They just wanted us to be ourselves and capture as much as they could of what we do on a day to day basis as cabin crew.

Did acting come natural to you?

It did, as we were just being ourselves and that’s what they wanted to capture.

Do the various scenarios in the advert remind you of any daily occurrences in your job?

Yes – some of the scenarios do capture what we do best which is providing exceptional customer service and having fun at the same time.

Any advice for those thinking of pursuing a career similar to yours?

If you have a passion for customer service, working with others, and are up for challenges, I’d say go for it! It’s hard work – the hours are long and work patterns include weekends and holidays but it can be rewarding if you love flying and travelling. There are opportunities to travel on holidays thanks to staff benefits and also career growth within the company.

Thank you so much for your time, Vasco! And finally…on Monarch’s scheduled network, which is your favourite destination and why?

As I have been flying for a long time, I have had opportunities over the years to fly to some fantastic destinations that Monarch used to fly to. One of them used to be the Maldives. It was such a beautiful place and very relaxing. On the current scheduled network, my favourite destination is Madeira as this is my home town. I get to see my family and eat amazing food. There’s lots happening in Madeira and it has one of the best fireworks displays in the world on New Year’s Eve. It was also Winston Churchill’s favourite holiday destination. In fact, a few meters away from where I was born (in a fishing village), Winston Churchill used to visit and paint the sceneries of the village. There is a placard that marks the place where he used to sit and paint. If you haven’t been to Madeira and want to experience something different, I would definitely recommend it! Comment on here if you’d like some tips 🙂

Naomi is the Social Media and Content Executive at Monarch and is a regular contributor to the Monarch blog. She is a big lover of Northern European countries and is very excited for the launch of one of Monarch's newest routes, Stockholm!